After portal, is entire army gone forever?

[Saridu]

Yup they're gone - I also had reserves so that hurt.

But look on the bright side, you killed the spider and now you have Rune mages, Paladins , Royal Griffins (if you're lucky) and soon to be Rangers

You could replay the fight and minimize losses but I don't see the point personally. Firstly maidens are awesome but supply is a big problem (I had none in my first game and my second a measly five) the non viking islands rarely have viking units so you would have to be very lucky to use them throughout the game.

Trolls, meh, slow and cumbersome and again supply, the house of Jotun gives you three (it looks set, checked my second game and same number, same items) so your leadeship will quickly outgrow them.

You could buy a throwaway stack if no loss is not important - money is no problem is this game.

I picked up Sea Dogs (Whaler's station and the Smugglers haven had them - found the -20% pirate cap both games so that's a good bet) 20% dodge , run and that fantastic tri attack, good spider slayer and if you found teleport great skellie archer slayer.

Not harping on the Sea dogs too much but if plan to keep Soothsayers (that loki's touch is amazing after you actually start fighting none undead stacks) might want to go for the Skald skill - Jarl I think it is, +1 to all vikings and +1 morale to pirates